Slavik hadn’t wandered from the Moonspear borders since the cat incident, it’d turned him off from exploring for a little. The fear had been more real than any he’d felt before, it’s stung with that scar on his back. But the scar was closing, and his will to see the world returning. This was to be another short trip, and not far from the borders. Just to a neighboring territory, the glen below the mountain. He’d only been here a few times, and never during the twilight hours. He hoped to be safely back within the borders by dawn, but for now he wandered the moonlit forest with wonderstruck eyes. The stars and fireflies were kin here, he couldn’t tell which entity was flesh and which was fire.

Slavik's eyes had set on one firefly, one he'd seen flash multiple times so he was sure it was no star. His pupils dilated much like a cats, he followed its every move, squinting further when it blinked out so as to see it's dulled body. Finally it got close enough to his face, and he hopped towards it with a clack of his teeth. He missed of course, but it blinked out again as soon as he closed his mouth and for a moment he thought he had it. Tongue lolling out of his mouth, Slavik glanced down just to check. Damn.

He hadn't noticed the woman nearby, he'd been too caught up in his hunt for that. A friendly voice brought his gaze up from his empty maw, and he shifted to a defensive posture for a moment, just to be careful. When Wraen was sighted though, and recognized in all her silver and grey beauty, he relaxed and a wide grin lit his face. Wraen! he called out in response, taking up a friendly and lax pace towards her. It's been some time, huh? greeted the large male.

Slavik hummed at her response, glancing around at the wintery scape. Honestly I hate it, the winter and everything. Back where I'm from it rarely gets this cold even in this season. And we still have a couple months of it left to go, he said with a sigh, his golden gaze sweeping back over her. He gave a nod and a smile as he responded to her next question, Great! I joined a pack with a friend of mine, things have been going pretty well there.

He remembered then that Wraen knew Speedy, so he tacked on quickly, My friend Speedy? I think you've met her before actually, she said you two shared stories once. He fondly remembered his first meeting with Wraen, when he'd told his parent's story about the wolf and the mouse, and Wraen had told hers about the bird king. What had he named the brothers again? He couldn't quite grasp that, as good as his memory was.

Wraen asked about the Moonspear wolves, Slavik’s first thought was that he hadn’t shared the name of the pack yet. She likely could smell it on him, but he wondered how she had become acquainted with them in the first place. He eyed her as she answered his own mental propositions, as though reading his mind. She knew Charon and Hydra, and some of the others apparently as well. It was as she said, a small world.

They’re good, though recently one of the sons left, he wasn’t particularly pained by it but he was sure the Ostregas were. Other than that things haven’t been too hard yet this winter. But what about you? How’re the Sunspire folks? he asked, remembering Rannoch, the first friend he’d made in the wilds.

So Wraen no longer ran with the Sunspire gang, or no the Lost Creek Hollow gang. Slavik vaguely remembered Rannoch saying something about them moving, it was good to know they'd truly done it. He hoped wherever they were now, they had plenty of food for everyone. Wraen continued her own tale, and explained that she'd struck out with her sister. Sometimes that's the way to go, you never know where you might end up, he said, with a hum. He had ended up great, despite Simsey leaving him and everything. And even when she had, he'd found being alone wasn't as terrible as expected.

Wraen wrapped up, Slavik's eyebrows raised as he smiled and nodded, That's so good to know, I would offer you to come join me and the others and Moonspear but looks like you're pretty happy. His sunny eyes followed hers for a moment, then a new question popped into his mind, Any idea where you're headed next?

Slavik understood that Wraen wanted to continue. Hell, the first time they’d met the roles had been flipped, and he’d said something similar to what she said now. He followed her gesture towards the mountains, and he realized he had never been beyond the Moonspear stretch. That sparked a lot of curiosity inside the golden boy, but he would refrain from traveling all the way there just yet. He had plenty of time, and surely one (less cold) day he could venture forth.

For now they decided on a simple walk, he nodded at her suggestion and picked up his feet. He hadn’t realized how deep he’d sunk into the snow, but his thick blonde fur was damp up to his wrist bones. He allowed Wraen to lead the way, and glanced up as they walked, do you know anything about the stars? I always thought they were pretty but I’m no astronomer. he asked, looking back down at his grey furred friend.

Slavik and Wraen moved to a rockier path now, while the ground was still cold it at least wasn’t as wet. This was better, though he was still dragging his heavy paws. If not for his friend beside him he might’ve gone back home and called it a day, but he was having a great time with Wraen and he didn’t want it to end just yet. Not while there was still some warmth left under his molten pelt.

His eyes drifted back to the sparkling sky fires as Wraen talked. He should’ve known that she’d have stories for the stars, she was a collector after all. But she had a brother named Terance who apparently knew more about the stars themselves. She asked if he wanted to be an astronomer, and Slavik let out a light chuckle, No, not exactly. I just like to learn about stuff, everything I don’t know is a new experience, might as well explore it, he said, looking back to her with a content smile on his maw.

Slavik hadn’t known that, that Charon was an expert of stars. Something to ask the older male about next time they met then. The Kendry was curious about almost everything, but the stats were an easier beauty to become preoccupied with. They’d started to really interest him since he joined Moonspear. Atop the mountain, you could nearly speak to them, and the sky whispered with unimaginable colors and lights. Slavik would definitely be asking some of the Ostregas for some tales about the stars.

For now he was fixed with another tale, another fact that Slavik didn’t know that he found very interesting. His eyebrows raised with intrigue, Nu-uh, that’s pretty awesome though. What’s the legend?

It was odd hearing Charon’s name used in a tale of mystic realms and spirits. And the beliefs themselves seemed odd to him as well, he’d never heard of such an idea, but it was very interesting. Where he came from on the plains, it was tradition for the bodies of the dead to be covered in flowers, or in the case of a winter departure juniper berries, and then buried. Their bodies went back to the earth, and their spirits were reborn as something new. The flowers and berries were to aid in the process of the spirit leaving the body, and finding a new vessel.

Come to think of it though, his family’s legends were sort of outlandish as well, but they had always seemed so natural to him. That was the way of tradition, everyone is used to their own, and can only see the strangeness of it once they’ve lived another.

He chuckled at her little joke, and his eyebrows raised when she mentioned going to the next deity. Seemed like a long process these Greeks had mapped out, and very complicated. Then she paused in her word weaving, to ask for questions. He smiled and shook his head, I got it so far I think, Charon’s two timing as an underworld tour guide, he joked, chuckling at his own witty remark.

Next came the tale of Hydra, and it didn’t start out that great. Ouch actually. If Slavik were named after a lizard with poison breath he wouldn’t know quite how to feel about it. It could be pretty cool, the name itself wasn’t that bad. But imagine the teasing! ‘Hey yo stank breath get yo three heads over here u big lizard!’ He wouldn’t dare repeat any of that to the daughter of the alphas, and he had no reason to be rude to her anyway unless it was a joke, for he liked Hydra. But he did smile a little to himself upon thinking it.

Slavik grinned at her flattery, giving her a shoulder nudge, You’re not too bad yourself, he said with a playful wink. He listened intently as she continued the story, which got more and more exciting the more she spoke. A hundred heads! What?! he exclaimed with a laugh, less of a question and more an expression of his astonishment! There was no way Heracle was gonna win at this point. But somehow he did, defeated the odds as heroes do. He nodded approvingly, Heracle was a pretty awesome guy. He glanced up at the sky above then when she mentioned that Hydra was up there now.

You mean there’s a big lizard constellation and I haven’t noticed it? he said, looking from her to the pitch night above, as if this time he looked Hydra would be clear as day.

Slavik smiled as she said that she could only find four constellations. Glad to know they were in the same boat! He looked down at his feet for a moment, he’d forgotten about the cold snow he’d walked through for a moment, distracted by her twisting tales, but it came back to him with the one glance. The Moonspear called out to him, a voice on the wind telling him to return but he ignored it. No, as long as his friend had another story in mind he was here to listen. Not even the promise of his warm den could bring him away now.

I’ll ask Charon about it then, I have to find him and tell him my name isn’t Satin anyway so that might be a good time. Wraen then shared with him one of the four constellations she knew, Orion the hunter. Now hunting was Slavik’s thing, so this was certainly a story he’d like to hear, Hu uh, sounds like a cool guy though, he said as an invitation for her to continue.

Slavik listened to Wraen’s tale, his eyes following her lips as she spoke. It was honestly kind of amazing that she could recall all of these tales at a moments notice. He imagined a small wolf inside her mind, bringing the thoughts to her lips like leaves in the wind. She was truly a wonder to behold, in all of her eloquent glory.

The story of Orion ended much like Hydra’s, with the hunter falling, then ascending to the stars above. Slavik thought it a nice thought, to go to the stars when he died, where he could hunt forever. That’s a good one too, you’ve got so many stories Wraen. I love it, he voiced his thoughts with a smile on his maw. He wanted to show his appreciation, for all that she’d shared.

And then she seemed to notice too how long he’d been out, and that he should return. He hummed amusedly at her comment, picturing himself frozen like a glacier. Yeah, I guess I should be getting back soon, he said with a nod, stopping to say his goodbyes. It was great meeting up with you Wraen, I’m glad you’re doing well! Next time we meet I’ll have something to share with you, he said, beginning to think up what he could possibly give her that was as precious as her stories. A rhythm maybe, or a snack?